The lack of knee articulation doesn't really bother me since they haven't (and won't) make anything for them to sit on anyway.

That's a good point, but I still have not comitted to this set yet for the same reason. That and only 3 of the figures are different enough for me to want them. Is it just the pictures, or are the figures going to look that washed out too? It seems like that dead-caucasian colored plastic, rather than paint.